could be most easily and profitably delivered. The river was easily crossed. We have seen the Roman legionaries surmounting much more formidable obstacles. The assailants suffered most when they came to the rampart. For some time they stood exposed to the shower of missiles which the Britons poured upon them. Here the loss in killed and wounded was considerable. But it was not long before they formed a testudo, and under its shelter tore down the rude defence of uncemented stones. The Britons could not hold their own in a hand-tohand struggle with the well-armed legionaries. They retreated to the heights, but both the heavy and the light-armed troops followed them. Both were better equipped for battle than themselves. The skirmishers had artillery of longer range; the legionaries were protected by breast-plates and helmets, and were powerfully armed with swords and javelins of the best temper. Even the light arms of native allies of the enemy were more serviceable than anything that the patriots possessed. Victory did not long remain doubtful. Caradoc's wife and daughter were captured, and his brothers yielded themselves prisoners.

The king himself escaped for a time, and took refuge with Cartismandua, Queen of the Brigantes. She put him in chains, and delivered him to the Romans.

It is impossible to assign to their proper years the various events of the war which came to an end with the capture of Caradoc; but we know that he had

1 See description of this formation on p. 23.

2 It is probable that many of the British weapons were of bronze.

CARADOC IN ROME.

43

held out for eight years against the power of Rome.1 His fame as a national champion had spread not only over Britain and Gaul, but even into Italy. All were

anxious to see this brave chieftain, and none more so than the Emperor himself. Caradoc was sent to Rome, and a great spectacle was made out of the exhibition of the famous prisoner. The populace thronged the Field of Mars; the Prætorians, or household troops, were drawn up in arms in front of their camp, and a tribunal was erected in the midst of the array, with the standard behind, and two thrones in front, on which sat Claudius and the Empress Agrippina. Military etiquette was shocked to see a woman seated before the standards, but Agrippina held herself, not without reason, to be the true ruler of Rome. To this spot the procession made its way. In front came the vassals of the captive king. Behind these were carried the collars of gold and other decorations and spoils which he had himself won in earlier wars from British rivals. Then came his brothers, his daughter and his wife, and, last of all, Caradoc himself. All his companions prostrated themselves on the ground; the king alone stood erect. permitted to deliver has

The speech which he was been thus reported by

Tacitus, but how much belongs to the historian, how much to the king, it is impossible to determine :

"Had my moderation in prosperity been equal to my noble birth and fortune, I should have entered this city as your friend rather than as your prisoner ; and you would not have disclaimed to welcome as

1 It was in A.D. 43 that Claudius crossed over into Britain, and in 50 that Caradoc was taken prisoner.

CARADOC PARDONED BY CLAUDIUS.

45 an ally a king of illustrious descent who ruled many nations. My present lot is as glorious to you as it is degrading to myself. I had horses, soldiers, arms, and wealth. What wonder if I was loath to part with them! You are indeed determined to rule the whole world; but does it follow that all the world is to welcome servitude? Had I been at once surrendered to your power, neither my fall nor your triumph would have gained their present distinction. Put me to death, and my whole story will be forgotten. Spare me, and your clemency will be remembered for ever."

Claudius, who along with much weakness and vanity, had some generous impulses, pardoned the king and his family. They were not, however, permitted to return to their native country.1

I

66

According to one historian, Caradoc is said to have exclaimed when he saw the size and magnificence of Rome, Strange that they who own possessions so many and so splendid should envy us our poor huts!" An interesting conjecture connects the Claudia mentioned by Martial (iv. 13) as a British lady married to one Pudeus with the family of Caractacus. She may have been the " daughter" mentioned as being one of the prisoners. This is not impossible, as Caradoc may have taken the family name of the Emperor, when he settled down to spend the rest of his life as a Roman subject in Italy. The times, however, hardly suit. The daughter, who was a prominent figure in the procession, was probably a grown woman, and in A.D. 60 (and Martial could scarcely have written earlier) would be past the usual age of a Roman bride. It is more probable that she was the daughter of King Cogidubnus, whom we know to have taken the name of Claudius, calling himself Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus. This Claudia becomes still more interesting to us if she can be identified with the Claudia mentioned by St. Paul in 2 Tim. iv. 21, and mentioned along with a Pudens. Dean Alford suggests that this Claudia may have become a Christian through her connection with Pomponia, wife of Aulus Plautius, of whom Tacitus relates that she was accused of having attached herself to some "foreign superstition," and that she lived a "long life of unbroken melancholy," a possible description, from a

The resistance of the Silures was not terminated by the captivity of their king. Whether it was that their despair made them irresistible, or that the Romans were rendered careless by success, it is certain that the Britons won more than one victory. A party that had been sent to fortify positions in the district was attacked with such fury that the camp prefect with eight of his centurions and a number of his best soldiers were killed. Only the prompt arrival of supports saved the force from destruction. Not long after the main Roman army suffered a severe check. A force of foragers was routed by a sudden attack of the Britons, and the cavalry sent to support them were repulsed. Ostorius, who was present in person, brought his light cohorts into action, but without success, and it was only when the heavy armed legions came up that a stand was made. On the whole the result was a British victory. The Silures were, of course, greatly encouraged by this result, and they continued to wage a desultory war with all the more vigour, when Ostorius, impatient at their obstinate resistance, was reported to have declared that the very name of the Silures should perish as completely as that of the Sagambri had perished.1

Roman point of view, of the profession of Christianity. Anyhow, Claudia was of British birth, and, if Martial, writing on the occasion of her marriage with Pudens, is to be believed, a very charming young lady.

"Our Claudia see, true Roman, though she springs
From a long line of Britain's painted kings;
Italia's self might claim so fair a face,

And Athens envy her her matchless grace."

'The Sagambri, a German tribe, had been removed bodily by Augustus into Roman territory.